Jacket made of
denim. Has a distinctly
wild west flair (and history?) that has been borrowed and excessively altered by modern chic.
The durable cotton material is well lent to childhood antics - scrabbling in the dirt, riding (and falling off of) bikes and skates, running too fast at night... Come junior high and high school they're more of a fashion statement than suburban armor. The collar might get flipped up.
As motorcycles and higher allowances become a part of life, many graduate from denim to leather...